Program Home

SR 520 - West Approach Bridge North Project

2006 photo of a damaged hollow column on the existing west approach bridge that has since been repaired. The columns for the West Approach Bridge North Project will be built to modern earthquake standards.

Renderings of the new West Approach Bridge North Project. Visit the design page for more.

Status

December 2016

Stay up to date on West Approach Bridge North construction

All lanes of SR 520 are scheduled to close between Montlake Boulevard and 92nd Avenue Northeast from 11 p.m. Dec. 9, to 5 a.m. Dec. 12. Check out our SR 520 Orange Page for more information.

Join us for our WABN monthly, public meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Graham Visitors Center.

Visit the Orange Page to learn about upcoming highway closures and construction activities.

Overview

The West Approach Bridge North Project is the latest phase of construction of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program. The new approach bridge will be open to traffic in summer 2017, extending SR 520’s three westbound lanes from the new floating bridge to the Montlake area in Seattle

Why is WSDOT
building a new west approach bridge?

The existing west approach bridge is a fixed structure that connects the current floating bridge to the Montlake interchange. The hollow columns supporting the existing approach bridge are vulnerable to a catastrophic earthquake, and its four-lane roadway has narrow shoulders and no transit/HOV lanes or bicycle/pedestrian path.

While construction has not yet started on the south (eastbound) half of a new west approach bridge, the north (westbound) half is projected to open to traffic in 2017. The existing, seismically vulnerable approach bridge needs to be replaced. If the aging structure fails in a severe earthquake before a south-half replacement can be built, the new West Approach Bridge North will have the width to support four lanes of traffic in an interim configuration.

The End Result

When completed in 2017, the new West Approach Bridge North will carry westbound cars, trucks and buses from the new floating bridge to the Montlake area.

Eastbound traffic will continue to use the existing west approach structure during WABN construction. Eastbound traffic will ultimately travel on a new West Approach Bridge South.

Also, as a result of West Approach Bridge North construction, SR 520’s new bicycle and pedestrian path will extend from Montlake across Lake Washington to the Eastside, with connections to local and regional trails on both sides of the lake. The West Approach Bridge North project also will implement local street improvements in the Montlake area, and a wider bicycle/pedestrian path on 24th Avenue East in Montlake.

Project Benefits

The West Approach Bridge North project will:

Build a new, seismically sound structure designed to modern earthquake standards.

Connect Montlake and the Eastside with new transit/HOV lanes.

Complete the bicycle and pedestrian connection across Lake Washington with a new, regional shared-use path.

Build environmental improvements such as a new Arboretum trail and a public park north of SR 520.